New Study on obesity – Lack of Sleep as a Child? obese as an adult!

Wired PR News.com – A new study has proposed that a connection exists between obesity as an adult and sleep deprivation in one’s childhood, as reported by Reuters. The study, published in Pediatrics journal found that individuals who received an adequate amount of sleep had a lessoned risk of becoming obese as an adult. More than 1,000 individuals age 32 and under were followed for the study.

Dr. Robert John Hancox, a senior author of the study stated to Reuters Health “Although we cannot prove that this is a cause-and-effect relationship this study provides strong evidence that it probably is.”

The significance of this study in comparison to others used to measure similar factors is it provides evidence pertaining to the long range effects of sleep on obesity.

Younger children are recommended to get approximately 11 hours of sleep per night. Older children and teens need a recommended 8 ½ to 9 ½ hours. Information about the study is featured in the November 2008 issue of Pediatrics.